Rice University and the Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) June 11 in Toulouse, France, to formalize research collaborations, graduate student exchange opportunities and new programs.

(From left) Rice Professor Junichiro Kono, Rice President David Leebron and Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées President Philippe Raimbault at the signing of the MOU.

Rice President David Leebron tweeted that he was “delighted to sign agreement for scientific cooperation” with the Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées and its president, Philippe Raimbault.

Elevating research achievement, building renowned graduate programs and extending Rice’s reach and impact are goals of the university’s Vision for the Second Century, Second Decade (V2C2).

Rice and the Federal University of Toulouse already have strong research collaborations, especially in the fields of materials and photonics. Many Rice graduate students have visited Toulouse to conduct research during the past decade, and graduate students from Toulouse have been visiting Rice for the past five years. Rice and Toulouse have held a joint symposium to increase mutual understanding of complementary expertise and facilities and further enhance collaborations both in research and education.

The Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées is an association of universities and research institutions in Midi-Pyrénées, formerly a region in southern France. The Federal University association has more than 100,000 students spread across its multiple universities and schools of engineering. The association’s research laboratories have gained an international reputation; nearly 25 percent of its Ph.D. students come from abroad. The Federal University supports its institutions with research collaborations between other universities and with businesses and with other shared projects, such as fostering partnerships between scientists and science teachers.

Junichiro Kono, professor of electrical and computer engineering, of physics and astronomy and of materials science and nanoengineering, accompanied Leebron at the signing ceremony, along with Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, professor of chemistry, of bioengineering, of physics and astronomy and of materials science and nanoengineering, and director of the Smalley-Curl Institute; Jun Lou, professor of materials science and nanoengineering and of chemistry; Peter Nordlander, professor of physics and astronomy, of electrical and computer engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering; Matteo Pasquali, chair and professor of the Department of Chemistry and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering; and Tim Noe, lecturer and research scientist in electrical and computer engineering.